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Originally posted by btb: Here’s Cole Porter’s "Begin the Beguine" (first 4 measures).The notation does not convey the inherent beat of the Beguine ... which is contained in the rhythmic note pattern of C.G (rh).G.G .

I think from the viewpoint of strict theory rules, you could not have, in common (4/4)time, an eighth note on the first beat followed by a dotted quarter; I believe it would have to be an eighth note on the first beat followed by an eighth note that is tied to a quarter. It produces precisely the same rhythmic effect, it just follows the rules of music notation - I think.

Is your quibble with Porter's notation the fact that the first note (C) is held, rather than being simply an eighth note? Otherwise, I've always felt that this notation captures the haunting rhythm of the beguine quite well - for those of us who don't have Latin blood flowing in our veins.

Notation always approximates a style. It can never fully encapsulate it.

Given that, I think a person who knows a bit about the beguine would be able to decipher the style from the notation above.

The same is true of any genre or composer.

"If we continually try to force a child to do what he is afraid to do, he will become more timid, and will use his brains and energy, not to explore the unknown, but to find ways to avoid the pressures we put on him." (John Holt)

That was a good one. It took a little outside research for me to get it though!

LOL, I "got it", but not after a moment of huh? Being very fond of Cole Porter, I have read several of his bios -one of them totally glossed over a rather major aspect of his private life- so the "Peru" thing fell into place fairly quickly.

As for Señorita Nina, well there's stuff in Google about that. Not the first time BDB has kept us on our collective toes.

You chaps are obviously not Beguiners (sorry about that) ... but I can't sit around here idly chatting ... must get to my deck-chair for the Pretoria-venue cricket test match ... NZ took a pasting in the first test ... we're hoping for a ding-dong 2nd test starting in less than an hour ... it's a bit early for a beer... but with the sunny temperature already on 27 degrees C it won't be long.